Today, Buffalo's business, academic, and civic leaders joined together to get Western New York working again. Brought together by Senator William Stachowski, Chair of the Senate's Economic Development Committee, Buffalo industry leaders met at the University of Buffalo’s Centers for Excellence to discuss job creation and economic development proposals to be included in this year's budget negotiations.
“Our job is to get people back to work. Immediate action as well as a long-term strategy to address the unemployment crisis is the only thing that will get New York working again. We are enlisting the expertise of industry leaders to draft comprehensive job creation proposals that will be included in the state budget,” said Senator Stachowski.
Executives from area businesses including Uniland and Graphic Controls joined city, county and state government economic development officials at Thursday’s meeting. University of Buffalo’s Centers for Advanced Technology and Entrepreneurial Leadership also participated in the roundtable discussion.
He also brought up reform of the Empire Zone program, a significant aspect of the proposed budget, and sought input on what economic development programs work and how they could work better.
“I appreciate the opportunity to offer proposals the Senator can use to shape the budget during this difficult economic climate. We must address the economic crisis facing New York families and businesses. We can’t afford to lose another job or another productive enterprise,” said Mike Sendor, President, Nussbaumer & Clarke, Inc.
“To meet the challenge of the dire economic conditions we face, a concerted attack on the problem requires getting people working now as well as laying the foundation for a sustainable, long-term recovery. I commend Senator Stachowski and his colleagues in the Senate Majority for enlisting all sectors of the community in the fight,” said Mike Franey, President, IBEW Local 41.
Senator Stachowski and the Senate Majority will be holding meetings in Syracuse, Watertown, Syracuse, Yonkers, Long Island and New York City.
You can learn much more about these discussions, and even tell us what the job market and business environment [5] look like from your perspective, at our New Jobs New York initiative page [6].
